Final meal

It is all for the "lesser" good!
    ~Messy Musings

Grease soaked paper bag, adds to the experience!! :D

Have you ever wondered what you would have for your “last supper”?? Considering the multitude of options... last night I had my final high-fat unhealthy meal as an overweight blob. Decided on Five Guys for a cheeseburger and fries... something I haven’t allowed myself to indulge in as often as I might have wanted to.

Amazingly enough, it wasn’t as good as I was anticipating. Just wasn’t as satisfying mentally (nor physically) as the same meal has been in the past. Probably because of changes I have been implementing in my life - especially over the past couple of years. First by starting to climb out of depression... and now it’s time to make some physical changes to compliment and help with that journey!!

This weekend marks the beginning steps for a new physical me... a 100+ pound lesser me!! Which is one “large” reason why there are no personal photos found on this blog (there’s just not enough space for one!!). They say a camera will add 10-pounds... I wonder just how many cameras are pointed at me when I look at photos of myself!! (ha ha ha - that's an old joke - even if it is true!)

After much looking, researching, talking with others, etc. etc. etc. ---- I have found a diet lifestyle plan I believe will finally work... for me!! (yay for Medifast!) Like anything worth having, it’s not going to be a miracle overnight success... will require commitment, dedication, work, and eyes kept on the eventual goal. I am excited to start this journey... in for a penny, in for a pound (lots of pounds!!).

Give me a few weeks to get going on the diet lifestyle change... then I’ll try to post some updates on how it is working!! Yes!! I have faith and hope this will work!! And who knows... maybe someday later this year I will finally post a photo of myself (you're either excited, or terrified at the prospect... and that's okay, so am I)!!

Dust and Chaos

As you may, or may not know, much of my home has recently been in a remodel phase of its lifespan. Chaos, construction dust, and restaurant food are words which help describe this latest adventure.

The chaos has settled down… somewhat. The pervasive dust is still in process of being hunted down and duly eliminated. I have been on a quest to put dust, and all such creatures associated with it (i.e. dust bunnies), on the endangered species list. (Please do not contact the ASPCA or local Humane Society… no real animals have been hurt in the process of cleaning).

I have found being able to once again use my kitchen for something other than a bedroom - is actually enjoyable. A 2+ month hiatus from cooking has proved to be educational to say the least. Here are some things I discovered…

• Restaurant take-away food can be quite expen$ive - and fattening!!
• With a limited amount of restaurants in my area - I am quite sick of all of them by now
• Microwave warmed-up restaurant food gets real old real fast
• Eating leftover delivery pizza for days on end will drive your taste buds insane

Surprisingly, preparing food at home can be relaxing in a way - and delicious (even if it is being done by a low rate amateur, such as myself). Let's just say that Food Network worthy I am not! Pretty sure there will still be those times when I’d rather just have cold cereal for dinner, or go hungry - than to put forth the time and effort to cook for just one person.

ugly food photo
shamelessly stolen from the internet

However, one good thing about being single and living alone - I am the only one who has to suffer from my culinary attempts. That is unless you dare to come over for dinner!!  I’ll cook something fabulously mysterious - betcha I won't even know what it is!!

Disturbing personal food facts

Everyone has a list of strange and somewhat disturbing facts about themselves - which many people try to hide from others observations. However, I am willing to divulge my weirdness for the world to know - mostly because I am aware that there are really only two people who ever read my blog - and they do so only periodically. So I'm not too worried about putting my quirks out there for the "world" to see - because the two people who might read this already know I am weird (or at least they will after reading this). Just remember - you who are without any weirdness cast the first stone!!

I separate my candy by color and/or type. For example; given a bag of M&M's I will promptly pour them out and proceed to divide them into color groups. I then proceed to eat the candy coated chocolate in a pattern (which can vary - see I'm not as OCD as you think I am).

I always save a small portion of the best tasting item on my plate to eat as my last bite. Warning to waiters: don't even think about removing my plate under the assumption that I am finished - not until I say it is okay, and that bite has been consumed! Unless you are looking for a fork wound in your hand that is.

I prefer wavy potato chips over regular ones (the larger the wave, the better). I love to slowly eat the wavy chips - biting off a row or two of waves at a time - working my way down to the end of the chip. I also like "burnt" chips - and get excited when I see darker brown chips in the bag (they are always eaten first). Why do chip manufacturers do their best to remove those before sending the bags to market? I would pay money for a whole bag of so-called "burnt" chips (mid to dark brown in color - not blackened burnt of course).

At Easter time I usually buy a small box of Peeps. You know, those overly sugar laden marshmallow treats that send you into a severe sweetness coma - or at the very least bestow a sugar migraine. However, I prefer to open the package and let them sit on the countertop for a few days prior to eating them. They are much better when slightly chewy stale, and not so squishy soft.

I love bread and milk. Much to my shock and surprise I discovered later in my life, that there are actually people who hate the soggy texture of bread that has soaked up all the milk goodness. I will sometimes even dip my peanut butter and honey sandwich in a glass of milk - much along the lines of people who dunk their donuts.

I hate it when eating breakfast, and syrup gets on any food other than where it belongs. Syrup belong on pancakes, waffles, or french toast. Syrup and eggs do not go together. Syrup and bacon or sausage do not go together. You may say, "but it all ends up in the same place". My reply to that might be to flippantly sing-song back to you, "one of these things is not like the others". Am I referring to yourself, or to the food? Hummm.... you may interpret that any way you choose.

I very rarely like to put gravy on my potatoes. I think this may depend on the type of gravy - but mostly I prefer to just put butter on whipped potatoes. Baked potatoes also require a smidgen of sour cream, in addition to butter. However, gravy on meat is usually okay.

Tart so-called desserts are an abomination, and must be avoided. No one in their right mind can honestly believe that tart pies (key lime or lemon) should be classified as a "dessert". In fact tart foods should be avoided all together! Give me savory or sweet - but hold the tart please. Perhaps this harkens back to the old adage of, "you are what you eat". I have never desired to be labeled as a tart.

I don't like vinegar. Can't stand to eat anything pickled.

I hate tomatoes (texture, taste, and acidic levels - ick!!).

For the most part onions and peppers don't like me very much.

I love cucumbers and radishes - but they don't love me.

Yeah, I suppose you could say that I am a picky or quirky eater (and proud of it). Just remember, they who live in glass houses shouldn't throw rocks - or is that people who live in rock houses shouldn't throw glass? Whatever!! At least we all acknowledge that the world is full of weirdness. And now I have brought a small portion of my weirdness to you!!

Wacky ice cream

This morning I read a news report about an ice cream place that makes and sells quite unusual flavors. Among which are jalapeno cream cheese with a raspberry swirl... but even more strange than that is the bacon flavor ice cream that they offer.

You heard me correctly... I said bacon flavored ice cream!! They say it tastes like vanilla, a bit salty, and really like breakfast bacon. Now if they could only get some maple syrup flavor in there somehow. Feasting on that would evoke thoughts of eating a delicious pancake breakfast, with the maple syrup spilling over onto the bacon... yummm... drool

Actually, contrary to others opinions, it doesn't sound all that bad. Of course this is coming from someone who has actually eaten garlic ice cream and lived to tell about it! Garlic ice cream also tastes like vanilla - and you honestly do not know there is garlic in it until you are finished. Then it is like whaaaaa... now entering into steamy garlic halitosis land. Warning! Protect your young... the bad breath monster is now on the loose!!

For the past couple of years my church group (in Mormon parlance that would be "my ward") has had an ice cream social at the beginning of summer. We gather up a number of hand crank ice cream makers, and spend a fun filled evening making and then eating many wonderful concoctions. After all, it is always more fun when you have to work a little before the reward comes!! I think that next year we should expand the flavor menu slightly... bacon anyone?

It's in the bag

Food smothered in alfredo sauce is commonly referred to as "cardiac on a plate" - due to the deliciously high fat content. I am pleased to announce that I have recently discovered "cardiac in a bag"!! No need to pay high restaurant prices, eat off plates and use silverware. This new discovery comes camouflaged in a simple grease soaked brown paper bag - and is messily eaten with your fingers. Honestly, what could be better than that?

What is this culinary delight, and where might you obtain your share? I think they call it Five Guys Burgers & Fries for a reason. That's about how many people you need to eat a single order of fries - which come in two sizes, ginormous and ginormous on steroids! Add to that their regular burger (weighing in at almost 1/2 pound) - and it's a glorious meal fit for.... someone who doesn't care much about calories or grams of fat content.

I have determined that I am only allowed to eat there once or twice a year. That's because it takes about that long to exercise away the 10+ pounds gained by a single indulgence. Don't get me wrong - it is oh so well worth it!! I anxiously, mouth wateringly, anticipate that next greasy food fix - which will be sometime this coming Autumn. Until then I am ever faithfully crunching away on my stalks of celery.